Election Notice

Goff Stating the Obvious with the Long Term Plan. Action Needed!

Waiting on actual leadership with the Long Term Plan

A Long Term Plan is a 10 year budget documents that indicate revenue and expenditure guides for Councils as required by the Local Government Act 2002. Auckland Council is in the process of establishing a draft LTP ready for full consultation next year.

This from the Office of the Mayor Phil Goff:

MAYOR OUTLINES PRIORITIES TO DELIVER ‘WORLD CLASS’ AUCKLAND

“Our vision for Auckland is a world class city where talent wants to live. It must be the city which can keep the best and brightest of our young people in New Zealand while competing globally with other cities around the world for skills, entrepreneurship and investment,” said Mayor Phil Goff.

“My key focus is to build infrastructure at a rate that matches unprecedented population growth to maintain our quality of life and make it easier to do business in our city.”

“Auckland grows by 45,000 people a year and is clearly a desirable place to live. This growth creates opportunities, but it also presents challenges in housing shortages and affordability, growing traffic congestion and pressure on our environment.

“Investment in public transport, including light rail, in active transport modes like cycling and walking, and optimising our road network is critical.

“That’s why under our latest Auckland Transport Alignment Project we have set aside $27 billion for capital investment in the next decade. Currently, $5.9 billion of that is unfunded and has to be found.

“I welcome Government’s commitment to meet the larger share of that, but Auckland will also need to contribute more.

“The ten year budget needs to consider where we source our share of the funds.

“The Interim Transport Levy is not user-related and does not raise sufficient funds. We can’t simply impose huge general rate increases to pay for infrastructure so some form of road pricing will be essential,” the Mayor said.

“We need to build more houses more quickly. The Mayoral Housing Taskforce makes recommendations which we need to move to implement.

“The Unitary Plan enables land development, but we need to invest in infrastructure to allow houses to be built. This will involve intensification of houses, as well as new developments under the Future Urban Land Supply Strategy.

“Use of targeted rates as well as special purpose vehicles through Crown Infrastructure Partners will be essential. That also applies to protecting and enhancing our environment.

“Water quality is a top priority. We need to reduce wastewater overflowing into our streams and harbours. Building new water infrastructure will be our focus including new wastewater interceptors and green infrastructure.

“While Council is looking for new sources of infrastructure funding, we must also get better value for the ratepayers’ dollar.

“It is time to realise the benefits of amalgamation to deliver further efficiencies and economies of scale made possible by the super city.

“Findings from our group wide section 17A value for money reviews will be critical and I want Council to develop group wide shared services.

“APEC and the America’s Cup defence add impetus to our planning and provide the opportunity to create a lasting legacy for Aucklanders.

“We have the opportunity to make Auckland more prosperous, smart, innovative, inclusive and culturally rich, with a beautiful environment and choice and opportunity for all.

“With this as our vision and the investment we need in infrastructure, we will make Auckland a world class city,” Phil Goff said.

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Further Information

Once every three years, councils adopts a 10-year budget (Long Term Plan) and requires full consultation with the public.

Public consultation will take place in late February and March 2018 following a series of workshops with councillors on the key challenges Auckland is facing. For more information on the ten year budget process please go here.

—ends—

This reads like a Government presser rather than a Council one.

Couple of things that stood out to me:

Goff is about to break his 2.5% Rates increase promise which was a stupid promise in the first place given the infrastructure investment requirements we have

We have an election on so stop referring to Government initiatives that are half baked. Goff should be as chief advocate going out to both major parties and publicly asking for the best deal from both of them (right now it is Labour)

I am not sure Goff understands the concept of the Interim Transport Levy given it got Manukau Bus Station over the line and built now rather than five years down the track if conventional funding was used

Goff actually hasn’t laid out his vision as Len did with the Auckland Plan. Currently the Auckland Plan is under a Refresh so this would be a good time to go test those visions Phil…